girlfriend. only she was not as tall. but, i want to thank the mayor lee, and the mayor's office, and jeff, and world rainbow fund and all of you for the invitation to be here tonight. we are so privileged to be able to gather together in community and joy and celebration and hope while so much of the world is plunged in darkness and chaos and war and intolerance. i am honored to read a poem for you tonight. >> the last time that i tried this, i pulled out a parking ticket. i got lucky this time. in spanish, hope, is aransa. and the plural is suransa many hopes. this is esperansas, in memory of sadako. >> for mother nature, and the ocean. but the rivers and the forest. who will speak for the redwoods and the brisle cones? for the sailors lost at sea, for the eyes that search for them, for the soldier and the soldier's widow. for the one in jail, and for the one that waits for the one in jail. and for the one who never had a chance to speak and found guilty. for the lovers torn apart and for the ones kept apart by, laws and prejudices. for the spare rows and the humming birds and for the we